Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have redefined what it means to be a great player. Both the players are much more than just goal scorers, but that is what people remember most about them both. The two players are constantly compared to each other, and their rivalry is one of the most talked about topics in football.
Table of Contents
Ronaldo vs Messi: General Profile
Factors
Ronaldo
Messi
Name
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi
Number
07
30
Nationality
Portugal
Argentina
Position
Forward
Forward
Date of Birth
5 February 1985
24 June 1987
Weight
80 kg
72 kg
Height
185 cm
170 cm
Games played
1140
995
All-time career goals
818
785
In the sports world, people are often confused about who is the better player, Messi or Ronaldo. However, this is not the case for all. For some fans, the answer is obvious. There are many ways in which you can compare the two players and conclude who is the best player.
You can’t talk about Ronaldo and Messi without talking about statistics. These two have really achieved some incredible things in the sport and have done so with consistency throughout their careers. If you want to see how brilliant these two players have been, the stats will tell you that. – First of all, we can talk about his goal scoring. Both of them are the top goal scorers in modern soccer history. They have jointly scored over 700 goals. Both have scored more than 50 goals in every season since 2009-2010. Each of them has won the Ballon d’Or, an award given at the end of each year to the best player in the world. Ronaldo won it five times in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. While Messi won it seven times in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. He has won the FIFA Club World Cup many times in his career. Messi has won it four times in 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2016. Ronaldo has won it twice in 2014 and 2017. They have won the UEFA Champions League twice. Messi won it in 2009 and 2011, while Ronaldo won it in 2017 and 2018.
Gamesmanship and Diving
Ronaldo vs Messi Records
Records
Ronaldo
Messi
Free kick goals
57
58
Hattrick Goals
59
55
Penalty goals
143
102
Braces goals
127
134
Goals Scored in the Finals
19
29
When people talk about Ronaldo and Messi, the first thing that comes to their mind is their sportsmanship. In both of them, the ability to remove penalties and steam things as much as possible makes them different from other players. The game is a part of skill and Ronaldo has been known to repeatedly dive into the penalty area and increase the contact. He’s been doing this for years. This is a tactic he uses to commit a foul, he knows referees are less likely to commit a foul against him when he is on the field. Messi has also been known to dive occasionally, but he is not as vocal about it as Ronaldo. He will try to foul, but it is not as consistent as it is with Ronaldo.
Agility and Speed
Ronaldo is a great player. He is by no means a slow player, but he is certainly not as fast as the other players. On the other hand Messi is surprisingly fast. He’s got the ability to make plays and get past defenders in a way that most players can’t. It is said that, Ronaldo is one of the best dribblers in the game. If he can get past his defender, he is able to beat multiple players to create scoring chances. When it comes to pace, however, Messi is the clear winner. He is faster than almost every defender in the game and can use that speed to create plays and break down defenses.
Ball Control and Passing
Both the players are very capable when it comes to ball control and passing, but they do it in their own way. Ronaldo is a very consistent and controlled player who rarely turns up. He has excellent ball control, can pass the ball well and is a very capable finisher. Messi is a more creative player. He has excellent ball control and can beat defenders with his dribbling, but his passing is his greatest asset. He can launch the ball all the way down the field to find teammates and he can do it from anywhere on the pitch.
Defence
If you’re trying to figure out who is better between Messi and Ronaldo, you can’t forget about defense. They are both forwards who play forward, so you can’t expect them to be amazing defensive players. But you can still look at the stats and see which is better. Ronaldo is known for his good efforts in defence. He also has the ability to catch the ball out of reach and to score even the worst ball. At the same time, Messi is a great defender. He is able to guard and lock down the biggest and best players in the world. He has excellent positioning, and knows how to win the ball without taking any risks.
Conclusion
Both of them are amongst the best of all time and they certainly live up to the criteria that a player needs to have to be the best at the game. The two have been at odds with each other for years, and it’s hard to say which one is better. Both of these superstars will continue to play at the top level for years to come, and they will be able to improve each other.
